Airflow assembly

ABSTRACT

An airflow assembly with a lightweight airflow mechanism; which is both portable with self-contained power; and easily mounted on various types of head gear; ranging from welding masks, hardhats, police and other first responder helmets, military helmets, baseball caps, cloth hats and other headgear; in order to complete the airflow assembly, provides the mounting of the airflow assembly on the headgear to be permanent or releasable or portable.

This invention relates to an airflow assembly; and more particularly toan airflow assembly having a headgear of various types capable ofcooling a person wearing the headgear due to a fan being releasably orpermanently attached to the headgear to form the airflow assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With various types of headgear, it is very desirable to create orprovide an airflow through the headgear in order to make the personwearing that headgear more comfortable, and even most likely safer. Theairflow can be created by a fan.

Unfortunately, the prior art is directed to a fan connection forheadgear, that is not portable. Such a fan connection restricts how aperson wearing the headgear with that fan connection can move. Thatmovement restriction can easily interfere with a job; which requireseither moving from one place to another, lifting material for use on thejob or other actions requiring physical dexterity and mobility.

Accordingly, many attempts to make a portable fan for headgear areknown. However, those attempts result in a bulky, cumbersome fan. Thatstructure interferes with the proper function of the headgear.Furthermore, such a fan can interfere with work required to be done,while wearing the headgear.

Also, the bulky, cumbersome fan fails to have sufficient power to last along period of time. This defect makes the fan ineffective for use on ajob. If a cooling device, which is portable, has power for a long periodof time, adds little weight to the headgear, and is easily moved fromone type of headgear to another; can be developed; great advantages canbe obtained. This is especially useful if the cooling device is easilymoved from one type of headgear to another.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of anairflow assembly with a lightweight airflow mechanism, which may beattached to or removed from a headgear as desired.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a lightweight airflow mechanism and power source, whichmay be attached to a welding mask.

A still further objective of this invention is the provision of anairflow assembly with a lightweight airflow mechanism and power source,which may be attached to a hard hat.

Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a lightweight airflow mechanism and power source, whichmay be attached to a cloth hat.

Another objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may be attachedto a welding mask.

Yet another objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may be attachedto a hard hat.

Still another objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may be attachedto a cloth hat.

Also an objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may bereleasably attached to a welding mask.

A further objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may bereleasably attached to a hard hat.

Yet a further objective of this invention is the provision of an airflowassembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, which may bereleasably attached to a cloth hat.

Still a further objective of this invention is the provision of anairflow assembly with a battery powered, lightweight fan, wherein thebattery is rechargeable.

These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectivesbecome clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawingsas a whole) are met by providing an airflow assembly with a lightweightairflow mechanism; which is both portable with self-contained power; andeasily mounted on various types of head gear; ranging from weldingmasks, hardhats, police and other first responder helmets, militaryhelmets, baseball caps, cloth hats and other headgear; in order tocomplete the airflow assembly, the mounting of the airflow assembly onthe headgear, being permanent or releasable or portable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a block diagram of the airflow assembly 100 of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective of view of the airflow assembly 100 of thisinvention in the form of a welding mask 200 with a wireless batteryassembly 280 and first fan assembly 308 attached thereto.

FIG. 3 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of the welding mask 200 witha wireless battery assembly 280 and first fan assembly 308 attachedthereto, based on Line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective of view of the airflow assembly 100 of thisinvention in the form of a hardhat 250 having a visor 260 with a firstfan assembly 308 and wireless battery assembly 280 attached to thehardhat 250.

FIG. 5 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of hardhat 250 having avisor 260 with a first fan assembly 308 and wireless battery assembly280 attached to the hardhat 250, based on Line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective of view of the airflow assembly 100 of thisinvention in the form of a hardhat 250 with a first fan assembly 308 andwireless battery assembly 280 attached to the hardhat 250.

FIG. 7 depicts a side, cross-sectioned view of hardhat 250 with a firstfan assembly 308 and a wireless battery assembly 280 attached to thehardhat 250, based on Line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 depicts an exploded, perspective view of a first fan assembly 308in fan housing 310 for use with the airflow assembly 100 of thisinvention.

FIG. 9 depicts an exploded, perspective view of a battery assembly 280for use with the airflow assembly 100 of this invention.

FIG. 10 depicts an exploded, perspective view of a second fan assembly120 for use with the airflow assembly 100 of this invention.

FIG. 11 depicts an assembled, perspective view of a first fan assembly308, wireless battery assembly 280 and second fan assembly 120 all foruse with the airflow assembly 100 of this invention.

FIG. 12 depicts a second block diagram for the airflow assembly 100 ofthis invention.

Throughout the figures of the drawings, where the same part appears inmore than one figure of the drawings, the same number is appliedthereto.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to several embodiments of theinvention that are illustrated in accompanying drawings. Wheneverpossible, the same or similar reference numerals are used in thedrawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts orsteps. The drawings are in simplified form and are not to precise scale.For purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such astop, bottom, left, right, up, down, over, above, below, beneath, rear,and front, may be used with respect to the drawings. These and similarto directional terms are not to be construed to limit the scope of theinvention in any manner. The words attach, connect, couple, and similarterms with their inflectional morphemes do not necessarily denote director intermediate connections, but may also include connections throughmediate elements or devices.

An airflow assembly of this invention uses a fan with a durable powersource in combination with a headgear. The headgear can be any suitableprotective headgear including a hard headgear or a soft headgear. Thefan and durable power source have both a small size and a low weight,which permits the attachment thereof almost any type of headgear. Such astructure is especially useful on a welding mask, a first responderhelmet, a baseball cap or other headgear.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the airflow assembly 100 includes headgear 110cooperating with an airflow mechanism 130. The airflow mechanism 130permits a flow of air between the headgear and the head of the personwearing the same.

Now referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the headgear 110 of FIG. 1 becomeswelding mask 200. The airflow mechanism 130 of FIG. 1 becomes first fanassembly 308 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. First fan assembly 308 issubstantially contained within fan housing 310. Fan housing 310 isattached to the mask interior 202 of the welding mask 200 by a fanfastener 312 (FIG. 8), while the wireless battery assembly 280 isattached to the mask exterior 206 of the welding mask 200 by a batteryfastener 282 (FIG. 9). Solar panel 332 may be attached to the exteriorface 284 of the battery housing 278 for the wireless battery assembly280.

Fan fastener 312 (FIG. 8) and battery fastener 282 (FIG. 9) may be anysuitable fastener. Two preferred fasteners are a hook and loop assemblyor a magnet. A standard hook and loop assembly is available under theregistered trademark VELCRO, owned by Velcro Industries B.V. LIMITEDLIABILITY COMPANY NETHERLANDS Castorweg 22-24 Curacao NETHERLANDSANTILLES. An especially preferred magnet is a neodymium magnet. Thispreference is created by the strength and lightweight characteristics ofthe neodymium magnet, as well as the minimal interference between thewireless battery assembly 280 and the fan assembly 308, while providingeffective cooperation, so that the airflow assembly 100 functionsproperly.

In FIG. 3, the function of air flow assembly 100 becomes even moreclear. The operation of fan assembly 308, contained within fan housing310 causes an increased air intake 270 and air output 272. The airintake 270 of welding mask 200 may be increased by oscillation of blowerfan 316, which causes air intake 270 to pass air through top fan cover330, then filter compartment 326, and then filter medium 328, when theair finally passes more efficiently to air output 272. The oscillationof blower fan 316 is powered by fan battery 334 and receiving coil 292which are both attached to the fan housing interior (FIG. 8) 340 of thebottom fan cover 314. The fan housing exterior 344 (FIG. 8) of thebottom fan cover 314 is attached to the mask interior 202 of the weldingmask 200.

With further reference to FIG. 3, the wireless battery assembly 280attaches to the exterior of the welding mask 200 transmits power foroperation of first fan assembly 308 by the transmitting coil 290. Thetransmitting coil 290 is housed within battery cover top 284 and batterycover bottom 286. The battery cover top 284 and battery cover bottom 286also has shield 288 situated within, in order to provide stability andprotection. The battery 294 is positioned within battery top cover 204.The fan assembly 308 (FIG. 4) may also be powered by a solar panel 332attached to the exterior face 284 of the external battery cover 294.That is to say the solar panel 332 may recharge or maintain a chargebattery 294.

Adding FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 to the consideration, a hardhat 250 may formpart of the airflow assembly 100 hat interior 252 and hat exterior 254.Operation of fan assembly 310 causes increased air intake 270 and airoutput 272. Fan assembly 310 includes a blower fan 316 communicatingsequentially with top fan cover 330, then filter compartment 326,followed by filter medium 328.

The air intake 270 of hardhat 250 with visor 260 is increased byoscillation of blower fan 316, which causes air intake 270 to passthrough top fan cover 330, then filter compartment 326, then filtermedium 328, and finally passed more efficiently to air output 272. Theoscillation of blower fan 316 is powered by fan battery 334 andreceiving coil 292 which are both attached to the interior of the bottomfan cover 314. The exterior of the bottom fan cover 314 is attached tothe hat interior 252 of the hardhat 250 with visor 260.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 add to the consideration by showing hardhat 250without the visor 260. Operation of fan assembly 310 causes increasedair intake 270 and air output 272. The air intake 270 of hardhat 250 isincreased by oscillation of blower fan 316, which causes air intake 270to pass through top fan cover 330, then filter compartment 326, thenfilter medium 328, and finally passed more efficiently to air output272. The oscillation of blower fan 316 is powered by fan battery 334 andreceiving coil 292 which are both contained within the interior of thebottom fan cover 314. The exterior of the bottom fan cover 314 isattached to the interior of the hardhat 250.

Adding FIG. 8, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 to the consideration, first fanassembly 308 for the airflow assembly 100 has one preferred structureshown. Operation of the first fan assembly 308 is facilitated by fanhousing 310. Fan housing 310 includes bottom fan cover 314 and top fancover 330. Within the bottom fan cover 314 and top fan cover 330 isreceiving coil 292 followed by fan battery 334 and blower fan 316.

While fan battery 334 powers the fan assembly 308 without the batteryassembly 280, the battery assembly 280 permits fan assembly 308 to runlonger. The interior lateral wall 336 of bottom fan cover 314 also hasattached to it control board 318, which includes micro switchboard 322and switch mechanism 324, which functions to turn fan assembly 308 on oroff. Above blower fan 316 is placed filter compartment 326 and filtermedium 328, to improve air quality. The fan housing interior 340 of thebottom fan cover 314 and the fan housing exterior 344 support the fanassembly 308 in working order.

Adding FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, to the consideration, the wireless batteryassembly 280 for the airflow assembly 100 is defined. The batteryhousing 278 supports wireless battery assembly 280 for connection to fanassembly 308 (FIG. 8). The wireless battery assembly 280 has batteryfastener 282 to secure the battery housing 278 to a desired surface asshown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 or FIG. 6. Battery fastener 282 can be Velcro(above defined) or a magnet (above defined). Battery housing 278includes battery top cover 204 and battery cover bottom 286. Fastener282 is on battery cover bottom 286.

Transmitting coil 290 is between battery cover bottom 286 and batteryshield 288. The external battery cover 294 is adjacent to battery shield288. Battery 296 is between battery top cover 204 and battery shield288. With battery top surface 284 on battery top cover 204, solar panel332 can be mounted on battery top surface 284 to keep battery 296permanently charged during daily use.

Considering FIG. 10 further, second fan assembly 120 includes top fancover 330 adjacent to blower fan 316. Control board 318 is connected toblower fan 316. Blower fan 316 is between receiving coil 292 and top fancover 330. Bottom fan cover 314 is between receiving coil 292 and fanfastener 312.

FIG. 11 shows the assembled first fan assembly 308, the second fanassembly 120 and the battery assembly 280. The battery assembly 280 canwork with either the second fan assembly 120 or the first fan assembly308. Either structure permits the transmitting coil 290 and thereceiving coil 292 to work together.

Turning now to FIG. 12, airflow assembly 100 as a headgear 110, with awireless battery assembly 280 and a fan assembly 308 attached thereto.The wireless battery assembly 280 and the fan assembly 308 cooperate tocool the wearer of headgear 110. Headgear 110 is worn on the head of aperson, and may be hard or soft.

Battery fasteners 282 attach to headgear exterior 114 and battery coverbottom 286 to hold the battery assembly 280 in place by fan assembly308, the fan assembly 208 being secured to headgear interior 112.Battery top surface 284 closes battery cover bottom 286 to hold thebattery 296 within wireless battery assembly 280. Solar panel 332 may beplaced on battery top surface 284 for the purpose of charging battery296 of the wireless battery assembly 280. Thus battery 296 may bereplaceable or rechargeable.

Fan assembly 308 and a fan housing 310 with the bottom fan cover 314 andthe top fan cover 330. top fan cover 330 includes filter medium 228 andblower fan 360. Bottom fan cover 314 includes the fan housing 310. Fanfasteners 312 on bottom fan cover 314 secure the fan housing 310 toheadgear interior 112.

This application; taken as a whole with the abstract, specification,claims, and drawings being combined; provides sufficient information fora person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention asdisclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice thisinvention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill inthis art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.

Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure,modification of this method and device can become clear to a personhaving ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications areclearly covered by this disclosure.

What is claimed and sought to be protected by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:
 1. A lightweight and portable airflow assembly forincreasing airflow comprising: an airflow mechanism forming thelightweight and portable airflow assembly designed for use within aheadgear, wherein the headgear is a head covering; the airflow mechanismbeing of a size to be easily mounted on or placed within the headgearwithout discomforting a person wearing the headgear; the airflowmechanism being releasably attached to an interior of the headgear; theairflow mechanism being lightweight and portable; the airflow mechanismproviding an airflow between the headgear and a head of the personwearing the headgear; the airflow mechanism including a fan assembly;the fan assembly including a blower fan, which causes an increased airintake and an increased air output between the interior of the headgearand the head of the person wearing the headgear, and being substantiallycontained within a fan housing, wherein the fan housing includes a topfan cover and a bottom fan cover, and the top fan cover and the bottomfan cover support the blower fan; a fan battery and a receiving coilcooperating to power a rotation function of the blower fan, the fanbattery and the receiving coil being attached to an interior of the fanhousing, and an exterior of the bottom fan cover being attached to theheadgear interior; and a fan fastener releasably securing the fanhousing on the interior of the headgear; wherein an entirety of the fanassembly is positioned in the headgear interior.
 2. The lightweight andportable airflow assembly of claim 1 further comprising: the top fancover communicating with a filter compartment; the filter compartmentcontaining a filter medium; and the filter medium communicating with theair leaving the fan housing.
 3. The lightweight and portable airflowassembly of claim 1 further comprising: the headgear being a weldingmask, a hardhat, a police helmet, a first responder helmet, a militaryhelmet, a baseball cap, or a cloth hat.
 4. The lightweight and portableairflow assembly of claim 1 further comprising: a wireless batteryassembly communicating with and providing power to the fan assembly tooperate the fan assembly, wherein the wireless battery assembly isconnected to the fan assembly; and the wireless battery assembly havingat least one rechargeable battery therein.
 5. The lightweight andportable airflow assembly of claim 4 further comprising: the receivingcoil being within the bottom fan cover and the top fan cover; thereceiving coil being adjacent to the fan battery and the blower fan; thefan battery being adapted to power the fan assembly without the wirelessbattery assembly; the wireless battery assembly permitting the fanassembly to run longer; the bottom fan cover having an interior lateralwall; a control board being attached to the interior lateral wall; thecontrol board including a micro switchboard and a switch mechanism,which cooperate to turn the fan assembly on or off; the wireless batteryassembly providing power to the fan assembly; and the blower fan beingplaced adjacent to the filter compartment and filter medium to improveair quality.
 6. The lightweight and portable airflow assembly of claim1, wherein the fan battery is rechargeable.
 7. A lightweight andportable airflow assembly for increasing airflow comprising: a fanassembly designed for use within a headgear, wherein the headgear is aprotective head covering; the fan assembly being of a size to be easilyplaced within the headgear without discomforting wearer; the fanassembly being releasably attached to an interior of the headgear; thefan assembly facilitating an air circulation of cooler air within theheadgear by a rotation of fan blades; a wireless battery assemblyproviding power for the rotation of fan blades; the wireless batteryassembly having a battery fastener releasably securing a battery housingto the headgear; the battery housing having a battery cover top and abattery cover bottom, with a transmitting coil positioned between thebattery cover top and the battery cover bottom and attached to thebattery cover bottom; the battery housing also having within it abattery shield between the transmitting coil and a battery, with thebattery being placed between the battery shield and the battery covertop; the fan assembly having a fan housing, with a bottom fan cover anda top fan cover; the fan housing having within it a receiving coilbetween the bottom fan cover and a fan battery, a blower fan between thefan battery and a filter compartment, and a filter medium between thefilter component and the top fan cover; the battery cover top havingattached thereto a solar panel; and the solar panel being a photovoltaicarray wired to recharge the battery.